Quick CAS question

[Arrow_Runner]

My CAS died about a month ago and I put in one I pulled from a junkyard. I didn't know that it affected timing, muchless what timing was at the time, so I just bolted it up to the valve cover and prayed my car started, which it did.

Do I need to check/change my timing if I just hooked up the new CAS? Or would the ecu make the adjustment since I didn't manually adjust the timing in the first place?

 

[Syndicate13]

You need to set the base timing. I'm not real sure on the specs for NT cars, but if you have a manual it will tell you. How to adjust it can be found here

http://www.plymouthlaser.com/timin.htm

Good luck.

 

[Arrow_Runner]

Thanks, any idea how much this will mess with my ride? I thought I've been getting less mpg lately. I'm not going to damage anything by having the car like this will I? I won't be able to set the timing until after Christmas.

 

[Syndicate13]

I doubt any long term damage will be done. If the timing is retarded then the car will be slower than normal and will not brun the mix completely, probably the case since your MPG has gone south. If it were advanced, the car could possibly detonate which is not good. Don't push the car too hard til you get it straightened out.

 

[Arrow_Runner]

whew, ok thanks

 

[Arrow_Runner]

Okay, up until today the car has been running fine and I haven't touched the timing.

I go to start the car this morning and it wouldn't start. I thought, "oh crap, there goes another cas".

Turns out that all I had to do to get the car started was turn the CAS clockwise a little and the car started and ran fine.

How could this happen? Why would I have to adjust the timing now when the car has been running fine for over a month? Is this a sign that something more evil is about to happen to my car or is this one of those DSM glitches?

 

[zdrux]

Check if you put in your CAS properly. The sensor has two "keys" or "pins" on the part that spins, it's possible to put the CAS in 180 degrees off. To check if it's in properly, put your car to TDC (top dead centre) and make sure the little notch on one of the keys on the CAS points towards the front of the car, and then put it back into the head.

After you do this, and even after you've put in your cas the first time you should have (have to!) adjust your base timing. If you don't know how to do it, take it to a shop, untill that time, put the cas position roughly in the middle, not too much clockwise or not too much counterclockwise. Turning the CAS to the right (clockwise) will advance your timing, give you more power, better MPG, *BUT* may damage the engine if advanced too much. Turning it left will retard it and give you basically the opposite effects.

As to why your car didn't start, I don't know. The car runs a little funny if the CAS is placed 180 degress off, because I had mine like that once, and sometimes it would start fine, and other times I would get intake explosions out my air filter, it's worth a try.